The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported considerable progress in the ongoing interisland linkage project between Davao City and Samal Island across the Pakiputan Strait in the Davao Region.
In an inspection report to Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain said various substructure works for the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Bridge continue to gain momentum and are progressing in parallel.
Ongoing works include the construction of ramps and land viaducts on both the Davao and Samal sides, along with significant developments on the marine viaduct and the main navigation bridge.
The 4.76-kilometer, four-lane bridge has now reached 41% completion. This milestone is highlighted by the successful completion of about seven high pier columns for the land viaducts on both ends, marking a major achievement in the project’s vertical construction phase. In addition, foundation works for the 275-meter extradosed main bridge are well underway.
On the Samal side, the steel caisson cofferdam for the navigation pile cap has been successfully lowered and is being prepared for concrete sealing. On the Davao side, the seal concrete bottom slab has already been installed, with preparations ongoing for the caisson’s lowering, pending final quality inspections.
The latest site inspection was conducted on Aug. 22, 2025, led by Senior Undersecretary Sadain along with Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Project Director Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes of the Bridges Management Cluster; Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista of Roads Management Cluster I; Stakeholders Relations Service Director Randy R. Del Rosario; Project Managers Joweto V. Tulaylay and Najar S. Imbin; Acting Project Manager Norifel Teddie G. Cadiang; Project Engineer John Christian T. Gaden; and other UPMO staff. They were joined by representatives of the contractor, China Road and Bridge Corp., and construction supervision consultant Pertconsult International.
The project broke ground in October 2022, led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. After the detailed engineering design, full-scale civil works began in May 2024 as part of the “Build Better More” infrastructure program, which aims to strengthen regional development and mobility.
Once completed, the SIDC Bridge will provide a direct link between R. Castillo–Daang Maharlika Junction in Davao City and the Circumferential Road in Samal Island, reducing travel time from 55 minutes via ferry to just 4.5 minutes. It is expected to accommodate an estimated 25,000 vehicles daily, boosting tourism and commerce in the region.
The 20.8 billion peso project is largely funded through official development assistance (ODA) from the government of the People’s Republic of China under a bilateral agreement to support the Philippines’ infrastructure development goals.
Implemented by the DPWH UPMO–Bridges Management Cluster, the agency is targeting project completion by 2028, which will mark a new era of enhanced regional integration, mobility, and sustainable development in the Davao Region.
According to Sadain, who oversees infrastructure flagship projects under the Build Better More program funded by ODA, several bridge connectivity projects have recently been completed under the Marcos administration and the leadership of Secretary Bonoan.
Foremost among these is the 3.17-kilometer Panguil Bay Bridge, currently the longest sea-crossing bridge in Northern Mindanao, which was inaugurated on Sept. 27, 2024. This vital infrastructure links Tubod, Lanao del Norte, and Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, significantly improving mobility, trade, and regional development.
Another milestone is the recent completion of the 541-meter Nalil-Sikkiat Bridge, which connects Bongao Island to the Tawi-Tawi mainland in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Additionally, several projects under the Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP) are nearing completion, including the Guicam Bridge in Zamboanga Sibugay and two other major bridges in Tawi-Tawi province. These projects are expected to further enhance interisland connectivity and spur inclusive economic growth in Southern Philippines.
Looking ahead, DPWH-UPMO Operations is set to begin civil works on several legacy infrastructure flagship projects aimed at strengthening interisland and regional connectivity. These include the 32.15-kilometer Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, which will connect Central Luzon and Calabarzon via Manila Bay; the 33.09-kilometer Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges, a transformative project for Western Visayas; the 2.61-kilometer Second San Juanico Bridge, an expansion of the existing Leyte-Samar link; and the Cebu-Mactan 4th Bridge and Mandaue Coastal Road, with a total length of more than 8 kilometers, designed to improve access between Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu.
